Washington Capitals First Quarter Review: 2022-23 Season

Photo: AP Photo/Nick Wass

The Washington Capitals have completed 20 games of their 2022-2023 schedule, approximately 24% of the season. As a result, it’s time for our regular quarterly review of the team.

After 20 games, the Capitals have a 7-10-3 record for 17 points, are in seventh place in Metropolitan Division, and 13^th place in the Eastern Conference.

Inside the Numbers (Wins and Losses)

Of the Capitals’ seven wins, all seven were in regulation. They have lost three games in overtime, with two of those losses being shootout losses.

To break down totals by month, the Capitals were 5-4-1 in October and 2-6-2 during November, so far. They have gone 5-4-1 at home and 2-6-2 on the road.

Team Leaders

Goals

Alex Ovechkin – 9 (4 at Even Strength; 5 on Power Play)
Conor Sheary – 7 (6 at Even Strength; 0 on Power Play, 1 Shorthanded)
Dylan Strome, John Carlson, Anthony Mantha – 5

Assists

Evgeny Kuznetsov — 12
Dylan Strome – 10
Nick Jensen — 9
Alex Ovechkin — 8

Points

Alex Ovechkin – 17 (9 goals, 8 assists)
Dylan Strome – 15 ((5 goals, 10 assists)
Evgeny Kuznetsov – 14 (2 goals, 12 assists)
John Carlson – 11 (5 goals; 6 assists)

General Statistical Analysis

Goals

Of the Capitals 55 goals, 14 were on the power play, 39 were at even strength, two were shorthanded, and one was scored on the empty net.
The Capitals averaged 2.75 Goals Per Game, which ranks 26th in the league, while their Goals-Against Average is 3.25, which is the 15th lowest.
The Capitals’ 55 goals were two less than the league average of 57 and ranked 20th in the league. They have given up 65 goals which is the seventh worst in the league.
The Capitals scored more than four goals on four different occasions, winning all of the games. They gave up more than four goals six times and lost them all, losing two in regulation, one in overtime, and two in a shootout.
Their record in one-goal games is 2-2-3.
Their record in games where the goal difference was 3 goals or more is 2-6-2.

Statistics

Below is a chart of the Washington Capitals statistics through the first 20 games, which includes the rank within the league. Both basic statistics and advanced statistics are included.

Basic statistics were obtained from NHL.com and Hockey Reference. Advanced Statistics can be found in Natural Stat Trick/ The full set of the team’s advanced statistics from Natural Stat Trick can be found here. Their advanced statistics from Money Puck can be found here.

Natural Stat Trick lists a breakout of Capitals’ players’ offensive statistics through the first 20 games of the season at 5-on-5. It shows goals, primary, and secondary assists, followed by a breakout of advanced statistics.

Link here for more detailed grades on each of the Capitals’ defensemen.

Additional Statistics

The Capitals took 599 shots on goal and gave up 628 shots on goal. At 5-on-5, they took 455 shots, which ranks 11th and opponents took 475 shots, which ranks sixth worst. Their overall Shooting Percentage was 9.2% which ranks 24th while their shooting percentage at 5-on-5 is 7.91%
The Capitals took an average of 30.0 shots per game and gave up an average of 31.4 shots.
The Capitals won 46.8% of their faceoffs, which ranks 26th in the league.

Goaltending

Darcy Kuemper played in 15 games, started them all, and made 392 saves on 432 shots for a save percentage of .907, which is below his career save percentage of .917. He has a 5-9-1 record for the year. His goals-against average is 2.83. Kuemper authored one shutout this season.

In advanced statistics, he has saved 1.5 goals above expected, .106 goals per 60 minutes above expected, and his goals against average is 0.11 goals above expected.

Charlie Lindgren played in six games, starting five, and has a 2-1-2 record for the year, making 171 saves on 189 shots for a save percentage of .905. That is below his career save percentage of .912 but this season is his first full-time NHL season. His goals-against average is 3.13. Lindgren has not recorded any shutouts this season.

In advanced statistics, he has saved 1.4 goals above expected, saved .243 goals per 60 minutes above expected, and his goals against average is 0.24 goals above expected.

Link here for a more detailed evaluation of the Capitals’ goaltenders.

Special Teams

For the season, the Capitals scored 14 power-play goals on 74 power-play opportunities for a conversion rate of 18.92%, which ranked 24th in the league, worse than the league average of 22.02%.

The Capitals Penalty Kill percentage was 78.33%. They have killed 47 penalties out of 60 opportunities, which ranked 15th out of 32 teams. Their penalty minutes per game was 10.0 which ranks 15th in the league. Opponents earned 11.3 penalty minutes per game which ranked eighth.

The Capitals scored 2 shorthanded goals and gave up 2 shorthanded goals this year.